Thunderbolts and Lightning Too Much for Dunbar

By RON NUNNARI
Independent Editor
Rnunnari@tcnewsnet.com

CLAYTON — The Thunderbolts struck first, then came the lightning. Northmont took an early 7-0 lead Friday night over Dunbar when Isaiah Brown scored on a six yard run and Cody Rice tacked on the point after with 4:22 remaining in the first quarter.

Two minutes later lightning filled the evening sky causing play to be suspended until 2 p.m. Saturday.

Before play was suspended the game was marred by five penalties in an abbreviated first quarter. One would think it was merely a fluke, but when play resumed Saturday the old proverb that lightning never strikes twice in the same place proved itself to be a fluke as penalty flags flew at will. By game's end a total of 21 penalties were called, 10 against Northmont for 105 yards while Dunbar got penalized 11 times for 80 yards.

Northmont overcame its mistakes to roll to an easy 41-0 victory over the Wolverines improving its overall record to 3-2 while Dunbar fell to 3-2.

“I'm not very happy with all the penalties,” said Northmont coach Lance Schneider. “We have to be more disciplined if we want to win the GWOC Central. We played well today, but we had too many penalties, including four or five personal fouls. That can't happen. This team has to be more disciplined.”

On the bright side the Thunderbolts didn't have to work too hard to put the ball in the end zone. The longest scoring drive was an 11 play, 60 yard drive that culminated in a 28 yard field goal by Cody Rice.

Northmont's next score was set up by middle linebacker Cody Grilliot. Grilliot dislodged the ball from Dunbar running back Ollie Lewis and outside linebacker Drake Thompson scooped the ball up at the Wolverines' 23 yard line and rambled toward the end zone before getting forced out of bounds at the four yard line. Three plays later Isaiah Brown scored on a two yard run. Rice's kick was good and Northmont went up 17-0.

In the third quarter Rice kicked a 26 yard field goal to boost the lead to 20-0. With 2:23 remaining in the third Cameron Belton (14 for 23, 171 yards) tossed a 25 yard touchdown to Keegan Rottgen. Rice's point after boosted Northmont's lead to 27-0.

Sophomore running back Josh Baker scored on a six yard run with 26 seconds left in the third quarter and Rice tacked on the point after to make it 34-0.

Baker scored again on a 12 yard run with 9:05 remaining in the game and Rice's kick made the final tally 41-0.  

“It was nice to see a lot of kids carrying the ball today that normally don't get a lot of playing time,” Schneider added. “We haven't played a game yet with our full starting lineup due to injuries. Jonny Lowery is still out; so is Zach Weatherford and Tevin Neilson.”

Northmont will host Beavercreek (3-2) this Friday night.

Dunbar         00 00 00 00 – 0
Northmont    07 10 17 07 – 41

Scoring Summary

1st Quarter
Northmont: Isaiah Brown 6 yard run. Cody Rice kick. 7-0

2nd Quarter
Northmont: Cody Rice 28 yard field goal. 10-0
Northmont: Isaiah Brown 2 yard run. Cody Rice kick. 17-0.

3rd Quarter
Northmont: Cody Rice 26 yard field goal. 20-0
Northmont: Cameron Belton 25 yard touchdown pass to Keegan Rottgen. Cody Rice kick. 27-0
Northmont: Josh Baker 6 yard run. Cody Rice kick. 34-0

4th Quarter
Northmont: Josh Baker 12 yard run. Cody Rice kick. 41-0